Fall Out Boy - Save Rock And Roll [It's actually blatant pop]
It's hard to take an album seriously when its title is itself a self-parody. That itself reflects on how the band wants you to take their album - as fun, light entertainment. Nevermind that the main hook off 'Death Valley' is a direct derivative from 'Moves Like Jagger', or that Courtney Love's spoken rant that kick starts 'Rat A Tat' sounds more like a joke than some attempt at punk (or that the actual song is completely irrelevant to her), or Elton John's pathetic four line part on the last song (and thank the gods when I realised it was ending). This album isn't so much music than it is a bunch of Top 40 songs made by band members who decided to end their hiatus once the flow in banks starts to slow to a drip.
Also, if you feel the album is unrelentingly long, you are definitely not imagining it- all the hooks are generic and the songwriting is simple. A lot of the choruses are peppered with "Whooaaa"s to try and accentuate the hook. The London Symphonic Orchestra sounds pitifully weak even on my largest atmospheric cans, and it is used as a backdrop on the first and last song, a cheesy way to bookend the album. The art is also soooo deeeppppp only true FOB fans can understand (apparently means the monk is the band's old days and the modern boy is the band's new direction). Big Sean's contribution to 'The Mighty Fall' is as useless as a white crayon.
There isn't a lot I can complain about the album. The production is plastic, it's lacking identity and it's a sellout. There isn't much to expect from commercial artistes anyway. It's only saving grace is Patrick Stump's tremendously improved vocals. I think it warrants a no star, but since it was more bearable than the Paramore album, I will award it one star.
Rating: ★☆☆☆☆
It's hard to take an album seriously when its title is itself a self-parody. That itself reflects on how the band wants you to take their album - as fun, light entertainment. Nevermind that the main hook off 'Death Valley' is a direct derivative from 'Moves Like Jagger', or that Courtney Love's spoken rant that kick starts 'Rat A Tat' sounds more like a joke than some attempt at punk (or that the actual song is completely irrelevant to her), or Elton John's pathetic four line part on the last song (and thank the gods when I realised it was ending). This album isn't so much music than it is a bunch of Top 40 songs made by band members who decided to end their hiatus once the flow in banks starts to slow to a drip.
Also, if you feel the album is unrelentingly long, you are definitely not imagining it- all the hooks are generic and the songwriting is simple. A lot of the choruses are peppered with "Whooaaa"s to try and accentuate the hook. The London Symphonic Orchestra sounds pitifully weak even on my largest atmospheric cans, and it is used as a backdrop on the first and last song, a cheesy way to bookend the album. The art is also soooo deeeppppp only true FOB fans can understand (apparently means the monk is the band's old days and the modern boy is the band's new direction). Big Sean's contribution to 'The Mighty Fall' is as useless as a white crayon.
There isn't a lot I can complain about the album. The production is plastic, it's lacking identity and it's a sellout. There isn't much to expect from commercial artistes anyway. It's only saving grace is Patrick Stump's tremendously improved vocals. I think it warrants a no star, but since it was more bearable than the Paramore album, I will award it one star.
Rating: ★☆☆☆☆
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